84 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



Christian era, they probably were breeding them 

 in great numbers by the beginning of the sixth 

 century a.d., for it was due mainly to a quarrel 

 at about that time over a famous horse named 

 Dahis that two formidable tribes entered into a 

 deadly and long-drawn-out struggle. 



At about this period the Romans began to pay 

 almost fastidious attention to the colour of their 

 horses. The colour most preferred for a war 

 horse was dark brown, chestnut, or bay, with a 

 white blaze up the face, or a white patch or star 

 upon the forehead. Light-coloured horses were 

 avoided as much as possible, except when the 

 animals were needed for processions, and so 

 forth. 



A graphic description is given of a fierce com- 

 bat between approximately iooo of Justinian's 

 cavalry, led by the renowned general, Belisarius, 

 and an equal number of Goths. 



The latter, determined to enter Rome, had 

 crossed the Tiber, when the column of Belisarius 

 came upon them suddenly. 



The engagement began at once. 



We are told that " Belisarius himself fought 

 like a common soldier," as the bravest of the 

 chiefs of that period sometimes did. He was 

 astride one of his favourite and best-trained 

 chargers, a horse described as having "all his 

 body dark-coloured, but his face pure white from 

 the top of the head to the nose." 



